Victory for the Warren School as court orders consultation over academy status

A school in Chadwell Heath won a court victory today against government plans to turn it into an academy.

The Warren School in Whalebone Lane had applied for a judicial review into the decision by the government to force the change of status.

However, Justice Collins today ordered that a consultation must take before the government can take this action.

This will allow parents, staff, students and members of the public to have their say on the school’s future.

The court said education secretary Michael Gove should then reconsider his decision to issue an Academy Order in light of the consultation.

Sarah Jane Scrace, chair of governors at the school, said: “The governing body is absolutely over the moon.

“This decision will mean we can carry on improving the school and provide continuity in children’s education with no disruption.”

The Warren School received a letter from the government on January 6 saying the school was failing and would be taken out of council hands and turned into an academy.

Last week the high court postponed government plans to set up a board to oversee the changes after a joint appeal by the school and Barking and Dagenham Council.

The school is concerned about the negative affect of the changes on children’s education, and hopes its work with Robert Clack School to improve standards is allowed to continue instead.

The Department for Education has said the school is failing and that academy status offers the best prospects for improving the performance of the school.

Earlier this week a spokesman said the appeal through the courts was a waste of taxpayer’s money.